MADISON COUNTY — The Madison County Prosecutor’s Office announced that the police-action shooting in Pendleton on January 29, resulting in the death of Blake Lawrence Brown, was legally justified.
On that day, police officers responded to I-69 between State Road 9 in Anderson and State Road 38 in Pendleton on reports of a man walking on the interstate.
According to the prosecutor's office, officers confronted Brown, a Serious Violent Felon, who was armed with a knife and did not follow more than twenty commands to "Show [his] hands!” and “Drop the knife!" Brown reportedly approached the officers aggressively, taking over forty steps while with the weapon.
Officers attempted to distance themselves from Brown until their safety became compromised.
"Studies show that a subject armed with a bladed weapon at a distance of over twenty-one (21) feet can injure a person armed with a handgun before they have time to effectively react," the office said.
Brown reportedly advanced to approximately ten feet and lunged at an officer with the knife raised on two occasions.
Authorities said this led officers to discharge their service weapon, striking Brown at least once. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
"Had Brown survived the shooting, probable cause exists to file criminal charges of Attempted Murder, a Level 1 felony; Attempted Battery with a Deadly Weapon, a Level 5 felony; Intimidation with a Deadly Weapon, a Level 5 felony; Resisting Law Enforcement, a Level 6 felony; and the Habitual Offender Enhancement," the prosecutor's office concluded.
